One night after receiving an exceptional performance from their bullpen in a pinch, the Los Angeles Angels had to figure the odds were slim that they would get another stellar effort.

The circumstances didn't seem favorable at the onset, with the Angels placing scheduled starter Alex Cobb on the 10-day injured list over the weekend and opting to use right-handed reliever Junior Guerra as the opener against the Houston Astros to begin a three-game road series.

But after Guerra allowed the same number of runs as outs recorded (three), five Angels relievers combined to limit the Astros to one run over the final eight innings in a 5-4 victory. Now Los Angeles will turn to a regular starter, right-hander Shohei Ohtani, for the middle game of the series Tuesday.